LYDIARD Park is set to be transformed into a drive-in cinema and kids’ club for 10 days in July.

Events will run from from July 2 to 12 on the main field in front of the play area at the country park with a maximum of 400 attendees to each event – roughly 300 cars.

The film schedule features films such as The Lego Movie and Despicable Me for children as well as Anchorman and Black Panther for adults.

Jack Summers, who is behind the Live at Lydiard festival, which has now been postponed to 2021, said: “We understand why it’s so important for these events to be hosted in a way that are safe and enjoyable.

“There’s a lot of things we’ve done across site to make sure it is safe and enjoyable.

“To go ahead it’s had to go through a very rigorous application process from Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Police and the ambulance service.

“There has been a lot of planning to go into this to make sure it is Covid-safe.”

Jack was keen to emphasise that people should stay in their cars unless there is an emergency or to use the toilets.

He added: “We will have separate toilets for the event.

“These will be cleaned after every use. We’ll have people monitoring them and there will be social-distancing measures in the queues as well as extra hand washing and hand sanitisation provisions.

“We will have security on site to make sure social-distancing rules are adhered to and to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for all”

To make things easier for those in attendance, the event will have its own app where people will be able to order food and drink and have it delivered directly to their vehicles.

Jack says the event will have its own FM transmitter meaning everyone will be able to tune their own car radios and control their own volume.

Alongside the movies, there will be a comedy night where Jack says acts from the local area will perform and a quiz night where the lucky car will win £500.

Tickets cost between £7 and £12 for each event depending on age and can be found at carclub.seetickets.com

The event series has been praised by borough councillor Dale Heenan, who said these events should be encouraged for the future.

He said: “This is really good news for local residents and Lydiard Park.

“Covid has seen many activities closed and as we reopen the economy it means we have to do things like this.

“The open air cinema is a widely popular event in Swindon and this will be no different.

“We’ve been very clear that the right measures should be taken into account but if everyone has common sense then we should be encouraging these kind of things to take place and not saying no.”

Two events will be held on each of the 10 days with the first starting at 3pm and the second at 7pm.